Peanut Balls for Clarksville Births

$520
of $400 goal

In an effort to improve labor options for women giving birth in hospitals in Clarksville, TN, the Clarksville Birth Professionals and Community would like to raise funds to purchase a Peanut Ball Starter Kit, two Round Birth Balls, and two ball pumps and donate to a local hospital's labor and delivery unit*.

Peanut shaped exercise balls are a useful tool to support women during labor, especially with an epidural. They enable women to adopt positions while reclining in bed that encourage fetal rotation and descent and thereby reduce the risk of cesarean. They may also be used by women during unmedicated birth for various laboring positions. Round exercise balls, or Birth balls, are useful for sitting on during labor, leaning over while on hands and knees, support while standing, etc.

*The intended recipient of this kit is Gateway, but if it becomes clear that the kit will not be positively received and utilized, it will be donated to a different facility instead, potentially NorthCrest or Baptist Health.

I know it's late, but I wanted to get this out today.
Fellow doula Sherly Lopez and I met with Sandy Smith and Amy White (Director and Manager, respectively) to formally present the donated kit to the Women's and Children's Services department at Gateway / Tennova Healthcare - Clarksville.
I expected it to be a simple handover, but we were brought back to the Labor & Delivery nurses’ station, where the nurses gathered around to see our big red basket of colorful goodies. Within minutes, they were inflating the balls and even toting them off down the hallway to use with their actively laboring patients. I couldn’t have hoped for a better reception.
Thank you to everyone who contributed to make this possible. If you'd like to read the long story leading up to this day, visit my blog at expectingnewlife.com/peanut-balls-clarksville.

Having a peanut ball during my labor made a huge difference. And anything that will help future mothers have a easier delivery should be available. I am,happy that I am able to contribute to such a wonderful kit to be donated.